|Photo by Dario Sanches (Wikipedia)|
blue-black grassquit (en); tiziu (pt); jacarini noir (fr); negrito chirrí (es); jacarini (de)
This species is found from Mexico down to southern Peru and northern Argentina.
These birds are 10-11,5 cm long and weigh 9-10 g.
The blue-black grassquit is found in grasslands, scrublands and dry savannas, and also in arable land, pastures and within urban areas.
They mainly feed on grass seeds, but will also take some insects and berries.
The blue-black grassquit can breed all year round. The nest is a deep cup made of plant fibres, placed among grasses tufts or in a low scrub. There the female lays 1-3 greenish or bluish-white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 9-13 days. The chicks fledge 10-13 days after hatching.
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 50-100 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.